The interview also divided TV viewers. Hundreds watched a clip of the interview on YouTube before entering into a heated debate in the video’s comments box.

One said: ‘Cesar, you’re a legend. You understand dog psychology better than anyone else I’ve ever seen in my life.’

But others applauded Mr Titchmarsh’s confrontational stance. Another commented: ‘Congratulations Alan on asking these questions - what a shame all Milan did was avoid them!’

Mrs Le Bon, who lives with her husband in south west London, has often spoken of her love of dogs, and has even launched a range of boutique dog-walking accessories.

In the past she has admitted her pets’ manners are far from perfect, although it is not known whether she uses Mr Millan’s methods to improve their behaviour.

She said: ‘We’ve a lazy Pug named Luigi, who often can’t be bothered to get up, and a Chihuahua called Tinka, who thinks she’s a guard dog and tears around after foxes. I’m often the one who ends up going walkies.

‘Luigi chews everything. Him and Simon get on great. In fact, I think the pug wants to become Simon and Simon wants to become the pug. It’s a little bit worrying.’

Mrs Le Bon’s spokesman did not respond to a request for a comment yesterday.